One of the biggest challenges facing the Israeli Mossad in the near future will be combating the terrorist activities of approximately 230 dangerous terrorists who will be deported abroad as part of the hostage deal and the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The terrorists will initially be deported to Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, but some of them are expected to travel to other countries.
The Israeli security establishment fears that many will reintegrate into terrorist activities against Israel, including attacks on Jewish and Israeli institutions abroad, kidnappings of Israelis, smuggling operations to Iran, establishing terrorist infrastructures abroad, and directing terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria, as well as within Israel itself.
According to Shin Bet data, approximately 50 percent of the terrorists released abroad as part of the 2011 Shalit deal returned to terrorist activity.
About 80 percent of them resumed their operations in Judea and Samaria.
Senior security officials state that the release of terrorists abroad provides a significant boost to Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure, further strengthening its leadership abroad.
In Istanbul, Turkey, the “West Bank headquarters” of Hamas’s military wing, primarily composed of terrorists expelled in the Shalit deal, operates under the full protection of Turkish intelligence and President Erdogan.
This headquarters coordinates operations with the “West Bank Headquarters” in the Gaza Strip and is responsible for planning and executing attacks in Israel and Judea and Samaria.
According to security sources, terrorists from this Istanbul-based headquarters played a role in the October 7, 2023, massacre in the settlements surrounding Gaza.
Currently, the leader of this headquarters is Zaher Al-Jabarin, head of Hamas’s military wing in Judea and Samaria, who replaced Saleh al-Arouri following his assassination by Israel in Beirut in January 2024.
Al-Jabarin, a former prisoner released in the Shalit deal, has steadily risen within Hamas ranks to become deputy head of the organization’s political bureau.
Handling Hamas operations in Turkey falls under the jurisdiction of the Israeli Mossad, but conducting assassination operations on Turkish soil poses a significant challenge due to the strength and efficiency of Turkish intelligence.
Consequently, the Mossad may opt to wait for opportunities to target these terrorists when they travel outside of Turkey or Qatar.
However, the large-scale release of high-profile terrorists will place an immense burden on the Mossad, requiring extensive surveillance to thwart potential attacks.
This will necessitate closer cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies worldwide.
After extensive discussions within Israel’s security establishment, a recommendation has been made to the political leadership to negotiate for the deportation of these terrorists abroad.
Although tracking and eliminating them would be easier within Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip, their removal abroad would sever direct contact with the Palestinian population, preventing them from becoming symbols of terrorism and limiting their movements due to the threat of Israeli action.
The standard of living for deported terrorists is expected to improve significantly, with many residing in hotels or private residences in Turkey and Qatar , and integrating into senior positions within Hamas.
The Shin Bet assesses that many of the released terrorists are highly motivated to resume terrorist activity, driven by a desire for revenge over the war in Gaza.
They are expected to leverage their experience and skills to further Hamas’s objectives.
Ultimately, the deportation of these terrorists abroad expands the global terrorist threat against Israel.
While it may complicate their operations due to geographical distance, it does not diminish the overall risk they pose to Israel’s security.
